Tonald shook his head. “I don’t know. It isn’t in the memory. I only know it was a catastrophe.”
She squeezed her eyes shut.
“They spent a lot of time here. A few survivors even stayed, joined with locals, and made a life here. Captain Griffin, however, always planned to leave. It seems he spent much time with Nelen, she was Meni’s Simulator at the time.”
Justyn frowned. “Simulator?”
“An artist who specializes in exact reproductions. Mostly pictures of families, children, homes. Some of her work still exists, she was exceptionally good.”
Nissa and Justyn exchanged a look.Someone capable of creating a convincing replica of the Constitution?
“One night, Griffin and his remaining crew disappeared without a word. As did a starship that had recently arrived to partake of the caravanserai’s hospitality.”
They’d stolen a ship and left. “There’s no record of where the Arnissian freighter rescued them from?”
Tonald’s brow creased, then he shook his head. “No. I’m sorry.”
Nissa huffed out a quiet breath. Nothing that could send them in the right direction. She glanced at Justyn.
He shrugged. He had no ideas either.
They chatted with Tonald a little longer and thanked him for his help.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful to your quest.”
“You’ve been wonderful,” Nissa said. “Thank you.”
“Would you like to see some paintings that were created by a descendant of one of Griffin’s crew? It was a woman who stayed on here in Meni and eventually married a local artist. Her name was Claudia Volkov.”
Claudia. Nissa nodded. “She was the ship’s comms specialist.” And Anderson Chan’s secret love.
“Yes.” Tonald led them through an arched doorway to an adjoining room. “All her descendants have been artists. These are some of my favorite works by an artist named Anderson Elson.”
Nissa stilled. “Anderson?”
“Yes. Claudia’s first son was named Anderson and the name has been passed down through the family. There’s always at least one Anderson in every generation.”
Nissa bit her lip. Goddess, either Claudia had been carrying Anderson Chan’s child, or she’d at least honored him by calling her first child after him. Nissa would never know the truth but a part of her was happy the hopeful young man would always be remembered.
A set of three paintings, each one not large but not small, graced the wall. The skill was amazing, the green color of the paintings looked almost luminous. It looked like green clouds in a sky of black.
As she stared at the paintings, she thought the green looked like some sort of fog. Simple, but beautiful. Then she realized that shapes were hidden amongst the color.
The first showed the vague outline of huge, dragon-like creature, jaws agape.
The second showed the ghostly outline of a listing starship.
Goddess, it matched Anderson’s references.
In the third, she couldn’t see anything, no matter how hard she stared. But the green mist had a circular edge on one side and stars lay beyond it. And…she stared…yes, there was what looked like a small, rocky moon.
Her heart stopped. A planet. The green mist was part of a planet.
“They’re beautiful.” Nissa managed to push the words out. She grabbed Justyn’s hand, squeezing hard.
He shot her a quizzical look before glancing at Tonald. “They are. Thank you for showing us, and thanks again for your time.”
The old Hydraen showed them to the door. “It was lovely to meet you both.” His smile was wide and friendly. “Your visit here will also be remembered. I will be sure to note the purity of your love.”
